donkey power

noun

A unit of power equal to 250 watts, or about one third of a horsepower.

“In that era, most of the equipment in this mine was run by donkey power.”

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Meanings

noun
  1. humorousA unit of power equal to 250 watts, or about one third of a horsepower.

    The Yugo car was famous for how anemic its engine was, but its output sounded more impressive when reported in donkey power.

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: motive power provided by one or more donkeys.

    In that era, most of the equipment in this mine was run by donkey power.

Origin

The humorous unit of power is modelled on horsepower, since a donkey is a less powerful draught animal than a horse.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

donkey power. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey%20power

MLA

“donkey power.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey%20power. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “donkey power,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/donkey%20power.

Source: donkey power on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.